Categories: Women's

Neville: Extra Fitness Work Is Paying Off

From team captain to chief try scorer. Joy Neville has been the forefront of the progression made by the Irish women’s squad in recent seasons and she was a central figure in Ireland’s superb 18-3 victory over Wales in Ashbourne on Friday.

Tries from player-of-the-match Niamh Briggs and experienced hands Tania Rosser and Joy Neville steered the Ireland Women to their first win over Wales since 2005 as they continued their unbeaten run at Ashbourne RFC.

Number 8 Neville was her usual industrious self off the back of the pack, and paid credit afterwards to the work done by new coach Kevin West and his staff in making the girls in green the fittest they have ever been.

Ireland’s strength and conditioning programme, headed by Leinster Rugby’s Sami Dowling, will be crucial in helping the side maintaining high standards as they look to improve on last year’s third place finish in the Championship and prepare for the summer’s Women’s Rugby World Cup.

Speaking after her side’s second win of the 2010 campaign, Neville said: “We are much fitter and more physical than we were in last year’s Championship.

“We have increased the amount of strength and conditioning work we have done under Sami and now that it is bearing fruit.

“It has really come together and I think you saw that in the second half against Wales.”

Wales won the Triple Crown last year and have held the edge over Ireland in recent years, so the UL Bohemians and Munster star was thrilled with the result and the momentum it will give them heading into their final game against Scotland next Friday.

“The contests between Wales and ourselves are always tight and although we had not beaten them since 2005 the games have never had a lot of points in them.

“We are delighted to get the win and hopefully we can kick on against Scotland and really end our Championship on a high.”